Please hang up when you encounter these common phone scams
Source: admin Release Time: 05:43:52 2018-09-09
Every year, thousands of people lose money to telephone scams — from a few dollars to their life savings. Scammers will say anything to cheat people out of money. Some seem very friendly — calling you by your first name, making small talk, and asking about your family. They may claim to work for a company you trust, or they may send mail or place ads to convince you to call them.
If you get a call from someone you don’t know who is trying to sell you something you hadn’t planned to buy, say "No thanks." And, if they pressure you about giving up personal information — like your credit card or Social Security number — it’s likely a scam. Often, scammers who operate by phone don’t want to give you time to think about their pitch; they just want you to say "yes." But some are so cunning that, even if you ask for more information, they seem happy to comply. They may direct you to a website or otherwise send information featuring “satisfied customers.” These customers, known as shills, are likely as fake as their praise for the company. Here are a few red flags to help you spot telemarketing scams. If you hear a line that sounds like this, say "no, thank you," hang up, and file a complaint with the FTC: You've been specially selected (for this offer). You'll get a free bonus if you buy our product. You've won one of five valuable prizes. You've won big money in a foreign lottery. This investment is low risk and provides a higher return than you can get anywhere else. You have to make up your mind right away. You trust me, right? You don't need to check our company with anyone. We'll just put the shipping and handling charges on your credit card.